Joshua Kimmich's (r.) first-half goal was enough for Bayern Munich against Schalke in the DFB Cup quarter-finals. - © imago
Joshua Kimmich's (r.) first-half goal was enough for Bayern Munich against Schalke in the DFB Cup quarter-finals. - © imago
bundesliga

Joshua Kimmich goal decides DFB Cup quarter-final between holders Bayern Munich and Schalke

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Holders Bayern Munich are through to the DFB Cup semi-finals after Joshua Kimmich scored the only goal of keenly contested encounter with Bundesliga rivals Schalke.

Schalke 0-1 Bayern Munich
Goals: 0-1 Kimmich (40')

Schalke had a really good go at Bayern in the first 15 minutes, with Alessandro Schöpf curling mere inches wide of Manuel Neuer’s far post from 18 yards. Guido Burgstaller turned Weston McKennie’s superb cross onto the crossbar soon after, before having a goal ruled out for a clear offside - confirmed for form’s sake following consultation with the VAR. That appeared to stir something inside of Bayern as Markus Schubert repelled an effort from Benjamin Pavard and turned a goal-bound clearance from teammate Jean-Clair Todibo behind. That particular set-piece didn’t come to anything, but the next one did as Kimmich drove home through a ruck of blue shirts after Burgstaller could only half clear Philippe Coutinho’s in-swinging corner.

The second period was just as entertaining as the first, with Bayern locking down possession and Schalke posing problems of their own on the counter. Thomas Müller was unable to make the most of a quick corner routine from Coutinho, who was later denied a trademark goal in off the left-hand side by the crossbar. The Royal Blues’ best chance of an equaliser fell to substitute Benito Raman, but the Belgian could only direct Rabbi Matondo’s low cross straight at Neuer. Serge Gnabry then tested Schubert, with former midfielder Leon Goretzka sending a free header into the ground and wide from the ensuing corner. Schalke ended the contest with four strikers on the pitch, but Bayern were rarely troubled as they booked an 11th successive semi-final berth.

Match stats

  • Bayern have won a competition record 19 DFB Cups.
  • The record champions beat fourth-tier Energie Cottbus (3-1), Bundesliga 2 club Bochum (2-1) and Hoffenheim (4-3) in the previous rounds.
  • Kimmich scored his second goal in as many competitive games.
  • Interim coach Hansi Flick won a Bundesliga-DFB Cup double as a Bayern player in 1985/86.
  • Bayern captain Neuer spent 20 years at Schalke, before moving to Bayern in summer 2011.
  • Schalke have lost three times to Bayern this season. The Royal Blues were beaten 3-0 at home and 5-0 away in the Bundesliga.

Line-ups

Schalke: Schubert - Kenny, Todibo, Becker (Gregoritsch 86'), Nastasic, Oczipka - Matondo (Kutucu 82'), McKennie, Boujellab (Raman 64'), Schöpf - Burgstaller (c)
Unused subs: Nübel, Harit, Thiaw, Mercan
Out: Caligiuri (knee), Mascarell (groin), Kabak (back), Miranda (calf), Sane (knee), Stambouli (metatarsal), Serdar (broken toe)
Coach: David Wagner

Bayern: Neuer (c) – Kimmich, Pavard, Alaba, Davies – Tolisso (Zirkzee 84'), Thiago – Gnabry, Goretzka, Coutinho - Müller
Unused subs: Ulreich, Odriozola, Martinez, Cuisance, Arp, Dajaku, Mai, Batista-Meier
Out: Boateng (stomach bug), Coman (thigh), Lewandowski (knee), Perisic (ankle), Süle (torn ACL), Hernandez (ligament strain)
Coach: Hansi Flick

As it happened

Schalke 0-1 Bayern Munich
Goals:
0-1 Kimmich (40')

Schalke: Schubert - Kenny, Todibo, Becker (Gregoritsch 86'), Nastasic, Oczipka - Matondo (Kutucu 82'), McKennie, Boujellab (Raman 64'), Schöpf - Burgstaller (c)
Bayern: Neuer (c) – Kimmich, Pavard, Alaba, Davies – Tolisso (Zirkzee 84'), Thiago – Gnabry, Goretzka, Coutinho - Müller

BAYERN ARE THROUGH TO THE DFB CUP SEMI-FINALS!

90+2' SCHUBERT'S UP!

Gnabry clips the heels of Kutucu. Schubert's up for the free-kick. Raman sends it in - nothing doing!

90+1' SCHALKE PROMISE

Schalke are drinking in the last-chance saloon as a promising attack breaks down on the edge of the Bayern area. They looked for a moment like they had a man over, but Bayern got bodies in the way before Raman was penalised for a foul.

86' KITCHEN-SINK TIME?

McKennie goes into the referee's little black book after catching Thiago very late. The stoppage allows Michael Gregoritsch to join the action at the expense of defender Timo Becker. Schalke have four forwards on the pitch now...

84' ZIRKZEE ENTERS THE FRAY

Attacking change from Hansi Flick. Joshua Zirkzee is on for Tolisso, who's been very effective in the holding midfield role. The Dutchman will go up front, with Müller dropping back into the No.10 role.

82' SCHALKE CHANGE

Here comes Kutucu. All his Bundesliga goals so far this season have come from the bench. Matondo makes way, which is a bit of a surprise. He's been Schalke's best attacking outlet.

79' GNABRY INTO THE SIDE-NETTING

Pavard gets a flick on Kimmich's corner, but Gnabry - under pressure from Kenny - can only direct the ball into the side-netting. Striker Ahmed Kutucu is about to come on for Schalke...

72' ACROBATICS FROM GORETZKA

Goretzka again! This time his overhead attempt sails comfortably over. He's finding the space, though.

69' GORETZKA SHOULD SCORE

Incisive stuff from Bayern. Goretzka threads a cute ball into the path of Gnabry, who forces Schubert into a routine save at his near post. Kimmich whips in the ensuing corner - Goretzka's unmarked after losing Todibo, but sends his header into the ground and wide.

65' GOLDEN CHANCE FOR SCHALKE!

Bayern are caught out on the break. Matondo powers clear of Alaba and manages to release the ball before Davies can get back. A Bayern defender gets a touch on the cross to slow the pace of the delivery, but that's no excuse for Benito Raman - on in place of Boujellab - whose first-time attempt is very much of the powder-puff variety. Had to score.

62' COUTINHO OFF THE BAR!

Wowsers! Coutinho collects the ball on the edge of the Schalke area, sells Kenny a dummy, feints inside once again and whips a wicked effort onto the top of the crossbar. So, so close to a trademark goal from the Brazilian.

59 KIMMICH TO THE RESCUE

Schalke do get out of their own half with one hoof up from the back. Burgstaller's in-between two Bayern defenders, but Kimmich gets in a vital touch to prevent the Austrian from going one-on-one with Neuer.

57' ONE-WAY TRAFFIC

Bayern are in total control. Schalke can barely get out of their own half. Doesn't bode well...

51' CHEEKY CORNER

Coutinho takes a quick corner - it's straight off the training ground, but Müller can't do anything with it. He knows that was a chance.

50' GNABRY THREAT

Gnabry brings a raking long pass under wraps deep in the Schalke area. He hooks a ball into the danger zone, but Schubert pulls it into the bread basket.

47' MATON-GO-GO-GO!

Very encouraging from Matondo, who drives in off the right-hand side. He leaves a few red shirts in his wake, but his touch on the turn is a tad heavy, and Tolisso is able to get a foot in on the edge of the area. No fear is the only way Schalke will get back into this...

SECOND HALF!

No changes at the break. Bayern haven't had it all their own way - can Schalke find a route back into the tie?

HALF-TIME: SCHALKE 0-1 BAYERN

Superb entertainment in this all-Bundesliga tie. Schalke don't deserve to be behind, but Kimmich's strike has holders Bayern halfway to a place in the last four. We'll be back in around 15 minutes, so that gives you just enough time to grab some refreshments and look up Burgstaller's fabulous moustache...

43' GORETZKA HAS A POP!

Superb control from the Bayern No.18, but he's leaning back when he winds up and sends a very presentable opening over the crossbar from the edge of the Schalke area. He's kicking himself!

40' BAYERN LEAD!!!!

Fantastic time for Bayern to score! Burgstaller can only half clear Coutinho's in-swinging corner. Kimmich takes it on first time from 18 yards, and drills a daisy-cutter through two pairs of Schalke legs and into the far corner. That's two is as many games for Kimmich. How do Schalke respond to this?

38' TODI-NO!

Yikes! Markus Schuber is forced into evasive action to swat away Todibo's headed clearance from a probing Kimmich cross. It's actually a very good bit of defending from the Barcelona loanee - Gnabry would have gobbled that up.

35' DÜSSELDORF CRASH OUT

The winner of this tie will not be facing Bundesliga rivals Fortuna Düsseldorf in the semi-finals. They've just been beaten 7-6 on penalties by Saarbücken of the Regionalliga (Germany's fourth division). Fortuna does not favour the brave, after all.

31' FIVE ON FIVE

Bayern are essentially playing with five men in attack at the moment, but Schalke's five-man defence is holding its own. You have to say Wagner's got his gameplan spot on after those 3-0 and 5-0 league defeats to the record champions. Will it be a case of third time lucky?

25' BURGSTALLER LURKING

Schalke do not look like a team that hasn't won in four. The Royal Blues comes again through left-back Bastian Oczipka, but his cross has just too much on it for Burgstaller, who's causing the Bayern defence a bit of a headache. Great reactions from Neuer to snuff it out, though.

24' MÜLLER FROM RANGE

Oooof! Not far away at all from Thomas Müller, who drifts a venomous effort wide with Schubert scrambling to get across his goal-line.

23' SCHUBERT MAKES THE STOP

Pavard loves a half-volley from the edge of the box. The Frenchman catches the ball really in a manner not too dissimilar to his 2018 FIFA World Cup Goal of the Tournament winner, but Schubert gets down well to beat it clear.

20' DISALLOWED GOAL FOR SCHALKE!

The hosts have the ball in the net, but it won't count. Matondo drives through the middle on the counter, releasing the ball for Burgstaller. It deflects off two Bayern players, but the Austrian was a fraction offside when the initial ball was released. VAR confirms the referee's intitial decision.

18' BIG BECKER

Coutinho clips a cute ball into the box for the run of Gnabry, but he's checked off the ball by young Timo Becker. That's how to defend.

16' GORETZKA FIRST TIME!

The former Schalke man almost does it again against his old flame, sending a first-time effort narrowly past Schubert's right-hand post. The Schalke stopper was beaten.

15' CROSS-SHOT

Markus Schubert looks worried for a moment as Benjamin Pavard's wayward cross threatens to drop in under the bar. It doesn't - but the keeper wasn't taking any chances.

12' OFF THE BAR FROM BURGSTALLER!

Counter-attacking football at its finest from Schalke. Müller and then Davies are repelled, and suddenly Weston McKennie is rampaging up the other end. He has Alaba and Tolisso for company, but fashions a pocket of space to whip in an outrageously good ball for Burgstaller. He stretches every sinew to make contact, poking an effort into the turf, over Neuer and onto the crossbar. That would have been some goal!

9' DOUBLE TROUBLE

It's pretty clear that Schalke's wide players have been drilled to double up on the Bayern full-backs. Phonzy Davies goes through the gears, but Kenny does just enough to force the heavy touch.

5' SCHÖPF!

Phwoar! Schalke go agonisingly close as former Bayern youth player Alessandro Schöpf curls an effort wide from the right-hand side of the Bayern area. Lovely build-up involving Burgstaller and Boujellab - Neuer is furious with his defence for not getting close enough to the blue shirts.

3' TALKING TACTICS

Schalke appear to be lining up in a 5-4-1 formation, with Guido Burgstaller the lone striker. That just shows you how feared this Bayern side is.

1' CHANCE!

Bayern scored three times inside 15 minutes against Hoffenheim, and they're almost in with less than a minute gone here. A ball comes in from the right, but Thomas Müller's at full-stretch and can't apply the necessary touch.

KICK-OFF!

Neuer touches the bar, both posts and the bar (rituals, ey?), and Bayern get us under way.

TEAMS OUT

That's the niceties done with. Tobias Stieler is the man in black - let's get ready to rumble...

EX-SCHALKE BOYS

Manuel Neuer came through at Schalke, before joining Bayern in 2011. Leon Goretzka, who scored against the Royal Blues on Bundesliga Matchday 19, made the switch in summer 2018 after five years at the club. Alexander Nübel will move to Bayern on a long-term deal at the end of the season.

ELSEWHERE

Bundesliga club Fortuna Düsseldorf are into extra-time against fourth-tier Saarbrücken. That one's finely poised at 1-1. Bayer Leverkusen host Union Berlin, and Eintracht Frankfurt take on Werder Bremen on Wednesday.

WHAT THEY'RE SAYING (BAYERN): "Schalke haven't had the best results of late, but they're still a threat. They’re playing at home and there’s always a special atmosphere at the stadium. We need to be on our game from the first whistle." - interim coach Hansi Flick

WHAT THEY'RE SAYING (SCHALKE): "It’s clear who the favourites are. The nice thing about football is that you never know what will happen in the end. Bayern are always a difficult opponent, but it’s the cup and we’re at home." - coach David Wagner

ONE-SIDED HISTORY

There must have been a collective gasp when the draw was made. Schalke are winless in 19 competitive meetings with Bayern, dating all the way back to a 1-0 DFB Cup quarter-final win in March 2011. Omens.

BAYERN: THE STORY SO FAR

Bayern have beaten fourth-tier Energie Cottbus (3-1), Bundesliga 2 club Bochum (2-1) and Hoffenheim (4-3) in this season's competition. They have reached at least the semi-finals for 10 years running, and have are the competition's record 19-time champions.

SCHALKE: THE STORY SO FAR

The Royal Blues beat minnows Drochtersen/Assel in the first round, before edging second-tier Arminia Bielefeld 3-2 and Hertha by the same scoreline to get this far. They were taken to extra-time in the previous round, though, and have only advanced to the quarter-finals or further twice since lifting the trophy in 2010/11.

BAYERN TEAM NEWS

Bayern beat Hoffenheim 6-0 at the weekend. Joshua Zirkzee was one of five different goalscorers in Sinsheim, but the 18-year-old is only among the substitutes at the Veltins-Arena. Thomas Müller leads the line, with former Schalke midfielder Leon Goretzka nestling in-between Serge Gnabry and Philippe Coutinho. With Jerome Boateng ill and Lucas Hernandez out, Benjamin Pavard moves over to centre-back, with Joshua Kimmich on the right and Corentin Tolisso coming into the midfield. Zirkzee is one of four teenagers on the bench.

SCHALKE TEAM NEWS

Coach David Wagner's response to a winless four-game run, and 5-0 and 3-0 defeats to Bayern in the league this season, is an extra man in defence. Young Timo Becker is the surprise inclusion - the 22-year-old made his Bundesliga debut last month, but has spent the majority of the campaign with the reserves in Germany's fourth tier. Top scorer Suat Serdar is out through injury, while Amine Harit drops to the bench, Alessandro Schöpf and Wales international Rabbi Matondo flank striker Guido Burgstaller. Markus Schubert is back between the goal-posts, with Bayern-bound Alexander Nübel making way.

WELCOME!

It's DFB Cup quarter-final time in Gelsenkirchen. Can Schalke spring a surprise by dumping out holders and record winners Bayern? Stay tuned to find out...